CASPER, Wyo. — Wildfires continued to burn throughout Wyoming over the past weekend, covering tens of thousands of acres in flames. Across the state, firefighters have been working tirelessly to keep the blazes contained.
In eastern Wyoming, the Pleasant Valley fire covers 28,984 acres at time of publication. The fire, located just outside Guernsey, recently merged with the Haystack fire, causing it to greatly increase in size. The previously separate fires are now collectively referred to as the Pleasant Valley fire. According to reports from the Bureau of Land Management, the Haystack fire was started by a lightning strike, while the cause of the original Pleasant Valley fire remains undetermined and under investigation.
Crews battling the Pleasant Valley fire will continue mop-up activities and patrolling control lines in the coming week, the BLM reports. Firefighters are also continuing to increase containment efforts as well as address hot spots. At time of publication, the fire is roughly 40% contained.
However, the area’s weather outlook is worrisome, as forecasts indicate more dry conditions and high temperatures in the days to come.
In the western part of the state burns the Leeds Creek wildfire. It’s smaller than the Pleasant Valley fire, covering about 1,230 acres. However, it’s also much further away from being fully contained, at only 13% containment.
The fire began Aug. 1 approximately 18 miles outside Dubois, and the cause is still undetermined.
Fire crews on site are working to construct a containment line, with hand crews and bulldozers on the south side. They will also begin work to identify, contain and mop up spot fires north of FS Road 670. Aircraft are being used where appropriate to halt the fire’s spread to the east of Leeds Creek.
Similar to the Pleasant Valley fire, though, the weather outlook creates additional challenges for firefighters battling the Leeds Creek fire, with arid heat and dry conditions pairing with wind gusts of up to 40 mph.
North of the Leeds Creek fire is the Clearwater wildfire, burning in the Elk Fork vicinity. The fire began July 19 and was caused by a lightning strike. The fire covers about 1,786 acres and at time of publication is only 7% contained.
According to BLM reports, the fire is burning in terrain that’s difficult to contend with, making suppression efforts a challenge.
The Clearwater fire has led to several closures in the region, including the Elk Fork Campground, Wapiti Campground, Clearwater Campground and Wapiti Ranger Station.
